18 June 2007
Tony Blair has faced a range of questions during his latest appearance in front of the cross-party Liaison Committee.
The PM, who gives evidence to the cross-party panel of MPs twice a year, began the session with a discussion on public sector reform. He also took questions on constitutional reform, immigration, the EU and Iraq.
- More from the Liaison Committee
- Iraq violence not our doing - PM
- PM praises success of public services
- PM outlines EU summit expectations
The PM’s views on the big issues
On public sector reform:
"I think that in the end the most difficult thing is keeping people aware of the fact that nowadays in the public services if you want the high expectations of the public met you have got to be prepared to change the whole time."
On academy schools
"The reason why we have moved and now have moved even further in the academy direction is because of the experience that we have had which is that if state schools are given greater independence and greater freedom, if they are allowed to develop very much their own purpose and ethos, it improves the standards."
On constitutional change
"I would just say be really cautious of trying to replicate the House of Commons in the House of Lords… If we want it to be a proper revising chamber it is best to be a different type of chamber. I do think we benefit from having people who have not necessarily spent their life in politics who can come in and give a broader experience and so on. I personally think that is quite helpful."
On immigration
"In respect of immigration there are real fears and worries that we have to meet. Now I am not saying all the measures have succeeded but I am absolutely certain that if we had not taken those measures we would have been subject to far greater criticism."
On the EU summit
"If people want an agreement this week we have to go back to a conventional amending treaty because the whole reason why this arises is because Europe is enlarged from 15 to 27 countries, Britain wants that, Britain has argued for it, it is a huge achievement in Britain over the past few years that it has happened."
On Iraq and Afghanistan
"We think we are creating this problem; we are not creating it, it is being created for us. The very forces that we are fighting in Iraq, … the elements that we are fighting in Afghanistan, that we are fighting everywhere, if we do not stand up and fight them back, and at some point in time we are going to have to, they are going to get stronger."
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